Cinedigm and Drafthouse Films has announced the Blu-ray release of directors Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren's
The Dog, an intimate portrayal of the spirited John Wojtowicz, the man behind the infamous Brooklyn bank robbery that inspired the acclaimed film
Dog Day Afternoon. The documentary is being released on Blu-ray under the Docurama label, and streets on November 4th.
Synopsis: In 1972, John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank to pay for his lover's sex change operation. The act resulted in a fourteen-hour hostage situation that was broadcasted across the nation. Three years later Al Pacino portrayed his crime in Dog Day Afternoon. Drawing upon extraordinary archival footage, the film shuffles between the 1970s and the 2000s. We gain a historic perspective on New York's gay liberation movement, in which Wojtowicz played an active role. In later footage, he remains a subversive force, backed by the unconditional love of his mother Terry, whose wit and charm infuse the film. How and why the bank robbery took place is recounted in gripping detail by Wojtowicz and various eyewitnesses.
Hailed as "hilarious, poignant and fascinating (The Film Stage)," the posthumous documentary interweaves extraordinary candid interviews with archival footage of early 70s gay rights activism, capturing the many sides of Wojtowicz, the self-proclaimed "pervert," unraveling his baffling existence. Filmed over a 10-year period, the "wonderfully obsessive (Examiner)" feature is directed by Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren.
Cinedigm and Drafthouse Films have yet to detail tech specs or special features.